Hormone Optimization Through Natural Bodybuilding Supplements

There are many natural supplements that can help optimize natural hormone levels to help the user gain muscle size and strength and/or lose fat. While there are many supplements available to manipulate the levels of various hormones, there are two types of supplements that dominate this category: natural testosterone boosters and estrogen blockers.

Natural testosterone boosters come in many different forms with a wide variety of ingredients. Most natural testosterone boosters contain herbal ingredients such as tribulus terrestris, longjack, and epimedium that supposedly boost natural production of testosterone. Some will also contain ingredients such as wild oat and nettle to boost levels of free testosterone. Free testosterone is the type that actually can build muscle, so the more free and less bound testosterone you have, the better in terms of gaining muscle. Some of these herbal ingredients, tribulus terrestris for example, have shown themselves to not actually do a whole lot to boost testosterone production, but others have some strong anecdotal evidence supporting their effects. One fairly new testosterone boosting ingredient, D-aspartic acid, has already gained much popularity as a natural way to boost testosterone levels. D-Aspartic acid plays a role in the conversion of cholesterol to testosterone in the testes, so in theory it should be able to increase testosterone output. Many users of D-aspartic acid agree that it is indeed an effective ingredient, so watch for this to be included in many of the newly released testosterone boosters.

Another main category of hormone manipulators is estrogen blockers. Most of these will work by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase. Aromatase is the enzyme which converts muscle building testosterone into estrogen, so taking an aromatase inhibitor should lead to lowered estrogen levels and perhaps increased testosterone levels. Aromatase inhibitors have proven themselves to be quite useful for shedding fat and “hardening” the physique as a result of lowered estrogen levels. One should note that when is comes to aromatase inhibitors, less is often more. Too low of estrogen can actually lead to reduced gains, lethargy, achey joints and dry skin. Too many people think that they need to almost completely rid their body of estrogen to increase muscle gains and reduce fat storage, when this is not at all the case. Reducing estrogen just enough with a moderate dose of an aromatase inhibitor would be an effective method of increasing fat loss and sparing muscle tissue while one is reducing calories to “cut up”. Some estrogen blockers are steroidal, but many are all natural and do not convert to any hormone in the body, and can be found naturally occurring in foods or herbs.

With quickly advancing supplement technology, there are currently many natural options for those who want to increase their muscle gains without prohormones, and there are definitely plenty to come. Currently, D-aspartic acid seems to be the up and coming testosterone boosting superstar, so keep your eyes out for many new formulations featuring this ingredient. Whether your goal is to build mass and strength or to lean out and harden up, there is a natural option available to help you do it!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cassie is a chemistry major and national level bodybuilder. Questions or comments? Talk to Cassie on the FORUM or on FACEBOOK.

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